Automatic sign



AUTOMATIC SIGN. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I4. I9I5.

1,313,159. PaIenIeaAuw. 12,1919.

I L. BEEMAN.

y AUTOMATIC SIGN.

APFLICATION FILED JAN. I4, 1915.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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LYLE BEEMAN, or MILWAUKEE, wisconsin.

An'roiin'ric sien.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Application filed-January 14, 1915. Serial N10. 2,127.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LYLE BEEMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaulree and State of lVisconsiii, have invented new and useful improvements in Automatic Signs, of which the following is a description; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this speciiication.

This invention has for its object toV provide an automatic sign driven by a suitable motor to change the reading matter Vof theV sign at regular intervals by presenting a series of sign plates successively to view, each sign plate beingautomatically withdrawn asthe succeeding sign plate is brought to view, and the. feeding movements of the sign'plates in one part of their circuit of travelthrough the machine producing the operation of mechanism for controlling and eecting their movements during the remainder of their circuit of travel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic sign in which the sign plates are elevated by motor driven mechanisinl` and during their upward travel first.

eifect the raising of a pair of swinging arms to a position to take another sign plate from its elevated position and tlienrestrain the return downward movement of said swinging arms to the position for transferring the sign plate carried thereby to holders for eX- liibitiiig the sign plate, such holders being so mounted and arranged as to discharge the signplate held thereby on the approach of the swinging arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatically operated escapement means actuated by the other parts for assuring the sign plates moving singly, though end of the automatic sign on of the sign plate frames;

Another object ofthe invention topperfect Vdetailsjjof construction-of automatic signsvof this type. l

as liereinrclaimed and all: equivalents.

Referring Vto the 'accompanying drawings in which like characters ofreference-indirati-need Ang. 12, 1919.

With theiaboveand other object sin view the invention consists'in the automaticy sign.

cate: the same parts in the-'different views i ,Figure 1 is a vertical'transversesectional` f vview of an automatic sign constructedin ac-A cordance with thisjinventionfand; beingapproximately on the plane of line 141 of Fig. with partsin the'position: in which; 1V theswinging arms have-taken thefsign plate -V and areY about to with;` ,f .Y Y.

Fig. '2 is a similarzviewgthereof onthe swing Ydownwardly thereing arms in intermediate position during their lowering movement, the, eXposedsi'gn plate havingbeen discharged by the rocking sign holders; y

Fig. 3 is a similar charged the sign plate onto the sign holders;

Fig. lis a'sectional plan view of the left-v hand end of the automatic sign on the plane of line H of Fig. 2;V Y

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the 'right-hand the plane of line. 5 5 of Fig. 3.; Y

Fidt 6 is a sectional elevation showing t3 parts at the'upper rear corner of 'thedevice; ,Y Y

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a Fig. S is a sectional detailviewcof onelof the sign rests on'the planeof line" S-L-"S of Fig. 3;

pla-tes as exposed to view; and,

Fig. 10 is `a detail View showing the crank for moving the sign lifting slide.

portion of one Fig.V 9 isa front elevationfwo'f the-sign'l showing the stationary and movable sign In these drawings 15 indicatesa suitablev i casing which has a glass covered open front 16 behind which appear sign plates 17 and 18, the former being stationary, and the lats ter being automatically replaced with others during ,the operation of the device. Both".y

. y 7'5 I view; on the planeof line 3 3 'of Fig. 4 with Vthe swinging: arms'Y in their lowerm'ost position after having dis'- sign plates are preferably formed of grooved frames 19 containing removable character strips 20 of liber or other suitable opaque material having the letters or other sign characters out therein and backed with a covering of tracing linen or other suitable translucent material. These character strips are held within the grooved upper and lower edges of the frames and the frames are braced at intervals by narrow spring strips 21 connecting said upper and lower grooved edges, said bracing strips being so narrow, and being arched rearwardly as to not interfere with the light showing through the sign characters. At the ends of the sign plate frames 19, slightly above the center thereof, are projecting lugs or trunnions 22 by means of which the sign plates are supported and conveyed from one position to another, the stationary sign plate 17 having its trunnions 22 removably fitting upon suitable hooks 23 by which it is held in position.

The hinged cover 24 of the casing carries an electric motor 25, the speed of which is controlled by a suitable rheostat 26 within the casing having an operating handle 27 projecting through a slot thereof so as to be operated from the outside. A y suitably mounted grooved pulley 28 is driven by a belt 29 connecting it with the motor 25 and carries a worm 30 meshing with a worm wheel 31 to drive ahorizontal shaft 32 eX- tending the full length of the casing and journaled in the ends thereof. Near the ends of shaft 32 are worms 33 which mesh with worm wheels 34 on vertical tubular shafts 35. The shafts 35 have plugs 36 in their lower ends resting on balls 37 contained in step bearings 38 secured to the ends of the casing, andV openings through the plugs admit oil from the interior of the tubular shafts to the step bearings. At their upper ends the shafts 35 are journaled in bearings in the bottom of oil cups 39 which project from the ends of the casing. An opening in the bottom of each oil cup 39 admits oil to the interior of the vertical shafts 35 to lubricate the upper and lower bearings thereof. Each vertical shaft is surrounded by a helix 40 which may be formed thereon as a thread on a screw but which is preferably made by fitting a coil spring around the shaft and securing it thereto, the purpose of this helix being to form together with stationary vertical guides 41 an elevating screw conveyer for lifting the sign plates by means of their trunnions 22 which fit between the edge of the vertical guide 41 and the shaft 35 and between the convolutions of the helix. The edge of the vertical guide 41 is rabbeted to forni a guide shoulder against which the ends of the trunnions 22 a-'but for holding the sign plate against longitudinal movement during its upward travel. The worms 33 are of opposite pitch, that is, one is a.righthand worm and the other is a left-hand worm, so that the shafts are driven in opposite directions and the helixes are right and left hand and are provided with lugs 42 near their upper ends which serve to force the trunnions 22 for wardly onto inclined projections 43 at the upper ends of the vertical guides 41. A double toothed dog 44 is pivot-ally mounted in a slot of each of the inclined projections L173 and is pressed forwardly by a spring 45 to a position in which one of its teeth is engaged by the trunnion of the end sign plate, thus serving to prevent the sign plates falling off of the projections. These dogs constitute escapement means for releasing the end Sign plates when they are forced rear wardly against the pressure of their springs 45 by means to be now described without allowing other sign plates to fall oil' of their support.

A shaft 46 is journaled in the ends of the casing and has a cam blade 47 fixed thereon close to one of the elevating screws and in the path of travel. of the trunnions 22 at one end of the sign plates so as to be lifted thereby as each sign plate travels upwardly, and swinging arms 48 fixed on the shaft 46 near its end are raised by this movement of said shaft from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1. These swinging Iarms 48, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 6pass through slots '4:9 in the vertical guides 41 and have their ends offset inwardly to lie in the plane of travel of the ltrunnions 22 of the sign plates, and form hooks 50 to receive the trunnions of the end sign plate onthe projections 43 whenthe double toothed dogs 44 are swung by the swinging arms to release them. The offset portions of the swinging arms have notches 51 to receive the lower ends of the double toothed dogs 44 'and the dogs are swung when the ends of these notches engage therewith as shown in Fig. 1'. As the trunnion 22 which has lifted the swinging arms passes the rounded nose of the cam plate 47 the weight of the arms 48 and the sign plate supported thereby is sufficient to cause said arms to descend, turning the shaft 46 and swinging the cam plate 47, but such descent is restrained by the engagement of the eccentric outer edge of the cam plate 47 remaining in bearing contact withV the trunnion., and in order that this restraint may continue throughout the downward movement of the swinging arms said cam plate is provided with an extension leaf 52 continuing the eccentric curvature of the cam plate. 1n order that the swinging movements of the cam plate 47 with its eXtension leaf 52 may not make it necessary to increase the depth of the casing such extension leaf is pivotally mounted on the cam plate at 53 so as to fold therewith as a collapsible cam, aV stop pin 54 being provided on the' cam plate to be engaged by the extension leaf to limit its swinging move-V ments with respect to the cam plate, and a coil spring Yconnectingsaid extension leaf with the rear wall of the casing Vserving to hold it in such engagement except when folded or partly folded at which times the extension leaf bears against the' rear wall of the casing. Pivotally mounted to the ends of the casing near the front wall thereof are levers 56 which standV in the path of travel of the offset portions of the swinging arms 48 to be engaged thereby and swung downwardly against the pull of springs 57 whichV tend to hold them in their upper position. Rollers 58 'on the levers 56 are adapted in the downward movement of said levers to engage 'the upper ends of push rods 59 which are carried by the front ends of rocking rlevers 60 fulcrumed to the end walls of the casing, said push rods near their upper ends being guided by slotted stationary guides 61 projecting from the end walls of the casing, and the play of the pushy rods 'in'such slotted guides being sufficient to permit the push rods' to be forced upwardly by leaf springs 62bearing against their lower ends as soon as the rollers'have depressed said push rods Iand have Vpassed over the ends thereof in about theIV position of the parts shown in Fig.y 2. 'Sign holder plates 63 are fulcrumed at 64 on studs 65 projecting from the end walls of the casing and are pivotally connected at 66 to the vpush rodsy 59v so as'to be swungl with the depression of said'push rods from a normal position,V as lshown in Fig. 1,'to a position as shown Ain Fig. 2 to turn the angular notches'thereof so that their rear edges are inclined rear'- wardly, vand thus discharge by gravity the sign plate which has had its trunnions 22 placed in said notches when in their normal position by the descending v'swinging arms 4S, such notched plates constituting the rocking sign holders previously referred to.y The transfer of the sign' plate trunnions from the hook shaped ends of the swinging arms 4S to the notches of the rocking sign holders takes place just before the end of the do-wnward movement of the swinging'arms, when the trunnions engage the rear edges 'of the.

notches which are theny inclined` forwardly, the weight of the sign thus being taken4 by the sign holders, and thesign plate sliding forwardly into the crotclies of the notchesV where the sign is held -in its exposed ordisplay position just behind the Aglass front 16,.

When the sign is discharged from thel sign holdersv63 by the downward movement of the push `rods 59, as -just described, the trunnionstliereof vslide off of the rear edges' give it an'opportunity to cease its swingingy movements which it Amay have acquired as the'res'ult of its quick rearward descent.vv

Before` the trunnions of the sign reach the pockets 69 they are arre'stedby engaging the pointed upper ends of slidesl 70 which 'are vertically movable through groovesin the ledges 67 and also through guidesV 7l project'ingv from the end walls of the casing, be#v ing r-aisedandl lowered by having pivotal connection with the rocking'levers'GO before mentioned.' Tlie'slides 70 are in their raised positionjas shown in' Fig'. 2 at the time the push rods 59'are depressed by the levers 56, and engage the trunnions of the sign plate discharged bythe signi` holders 63, but when the push rods are yreleased andare forced. n

upwardly by theirv springs62said slidesare" withdrawn s'o'that'the truiinions" rest iirigliek pockets 69 offled'ges '67', as Ashown in 1 and 43. On the succeeding upward. movement of the slides their inclined upper edges act as cams for forcing the trunnions 'over the raised portion ofthe ledges 67: so that they veyers. Y

An escapement the casing at each eiidvof the machine and slide 'Y 72 'is mountedA iii guides 73projecting from the end wall'ofy yico slide farther. down the' incline where'a num-'k' yber of .the sign plates maybe gronped for'-` successive admission to the elevatingfconf' shaped escapement arm 74 to be moved` vertically into and out of the path of the trunnions 22 on the ledges 67, such vertical movements ofthe escapement slides being accomplished by a .link7 5 connecting one of said yescapement slides with, th'e'cain plate .47 at one end ofthe machine and by a similar link connecting the other ,escapement slide with a Ycrank arm 76 on shaft 46 at theV j Y Y The iipwardV movement ofthe cam plate 47 caused by the other end of the machine.

engagement therewith of thetruniiion of the sign plate *during its upward` travel, as before described, causes the lifting of the escapement slides 72 from the position. shownv in Fig. 3 where the-hooked end thereof lies beneath the Vtrunnions ofthe end sign plate to the raised positionshown in Fig. l, thii's lifting said trunnionsdnto engagement'with the lower endof th'eworrn or screw threadV 40 to start the sign plate in its upward tig'avel, said hooked ends of the escapement slides while in their raised position holding back the trunnions of the other sign plates which are resting on the ledges 67, and only permitting their farther downward movement to present the trunnions of the next sign plate in position to be engaged when the escapement slides are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the automatic sign of this invention has been particularly described incidental to the description of the construction and arrangement of parts thereof but may be briefly summarized as follows: The swinging arms 46 are raised by the turning of shaft 46 incident to the lifting of cam plate 47 by the trunnion of an ascending sign plate until the hooks 50 at their ends engage the trunnions of the end sign plate supported by projections 43 of the stationary guides, at which time the double toothed dog 44 has been swung to release the trunnions of such end sign plate, so that during the following downward movement of the swinging arms 48 this sign plate is lowered thereby, the lowering movements being restrained by the cam surface of cam plate 47 and its extension leaf 52 bearing against the trunnions of such ascending sign plate. When the descending sign plate is in an intermediate position the sign plate being displayed and supported on the sign holders 63 is discharged rearwardly by the lever 56 ydepressing the push rods 59, the sign holders immediately returning by the escape of the push rods from the rollers of levers 56 so as to be in position to receive the descending sign from the hooks of the swinging arms 48 just before the latter reach the end of their downward movement, the sign plate so deposited on the sign holders assuming the position of display behind the glass front of the sign casing and remaining in this position until discharged rearwardly by the rocking of the sign holders incident to the succeeding downward movement of the swinging arms 48 in lowering the next sign plate into position. When discharged from the sign holders the sign plate takes its place in line with the series of'sign plates supported on the inclined ledges 67 though pausing momentarily with its trunnions resting in the pockets 69 until forced over the raised portion of the ledges by the upward movement of the slide 70. When its next turn for elevation arrives the sign plate is lifted by the engagement of the escapement slides 72 with its trunnions and is carried into engagement with the rotating worm conveyers to repeat the cycle of operation.

Electric light bulbs 77 may be suitably positioned within the sign casing so as to illuminate both the stationary sign 17 and the changeable sign 18 and preferably a suitable switch mechanism 78 having connection with a crank arm 79 on the rock shaft 46 is provided for controlling the supply of current to the lamp bulbs 77 to cause an intermittent burning thereof so that the signs are lighted while the changeable signs remain stationary in their exposed position, the lamps being extinguished during the short interval required for automatic substitution of one sign plate for the other.

By means of this invention the reading of the sign may be automatically changed in a continuous operation, one movable sign plate after another appearing to view to be read in conjunction with the stationary sign plate and being illuminated from within without showing the substitution of one movable sign plate for another by the illuminating lamps being automatically eXtinguished at such times. The mechanism has"l a capacity for a number of sign plates .in order that the changes may be numerous and the sign interesting, the various escapement means assuring themaintenance of propelorder in the movements of the sign plates so that the operation may be continuous as long as the motor is kept in operation.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by YLetters Patent is; Y

1. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting signs behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means, means for discharging the, sign plates from the supportplates rearwardly, eleva-ting means for lifting the sign plates successively, and swinging arms for lowering the sign plates from the elevating means to the supporting means. y

2. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means, means for conducting the sign plates rearwardly from thesupporting means, elevating means for lifting the sign plates successively, and means operated by the ascending sign plates for lowering the sign plates from the elevat ing means to the supporting means. v

c An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means, an inclined guide for conducting the sign plates from the supporting means, elevating means for lifting the sign plates successively, and means operated by the ascending sign plates ing means, means for conducting the signv V for lowering the sign plates from the elevatvarms for lowering'the sign plates from the u elevating means to the supporting means,

`means for lsupporting sign plates behind the andmeans in the path of the ascending sign Vplates for lifting the swinging arms and for restraining the downward movement thereof.

V5.a/in automatically changeable sign, comprisinga casinghaving a sign opening,

l sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means, an inclined guide for leading sign plates away from the 1 plates successively, means for lowering the.

-elevated by theturnng of the shafts, the

supporting means, elevating means comprising .a screw conveyer for lifting the sign sign plates from the elevating means to the supporting means, and means in the path of the ascending sign plates to be engaged thereby for lifting sign plates from the inclined guide to the elevating means.

6. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means, an inclined guide for leading-sign plates away from the supporting means, elevating means for lifting the sign plates successively, swinging arms for lowering the sign plates from the elevating means to the supporting means, and means projecting into the path of the ascending sign plates for moving the swinginfr arms.

In an automatic sign, an elevating conveyer comprising a pair of suitably driven worm shafts, stationary guides parallel thereto, and sign plates having projecting trunnions extending between the guides and the worm shafts and between the convolutions of the worms to be elevated by the turning of the worm shafts, the movement of the bearing surfaces of the worms on which the trunnions rest being longitudinal of the trunnions.

`8. In an automatic sign, an elevating conveyer comprising a pair of suitably driven shafts having screw threads, stationary guides parallel with the shafts, sign plates having vprojecting lugs at their ends fitting between the shafts and the guides and between the screw threads of the lshafts to be movement of the bearingV surface of the screw threads on which the lugs rest being longitudinal of the sign frame,

9. In an automatic sign, an elevating conveyei1 comprising suitably driven shafts having helically wound threads thereon, stationary guides positioned adjacent to the shafts and parallel therewith and having rabbeted edges to form guide ways with the shafts, and sign plates with lugs projecting from their ends to fit within said guide ways between the convolutio-iis of the helical threads and in end abutment with the stationary guides to belifted by the turning ofthe shafts, the movement of the bearing surfaces of the threads on which the lugs rest being longitudinal of the sign plates.

10. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting meanavmeans for removing the signv plates from the supporting means, an elevating conveyer for lifting the sign plates successively, swingingarms for `lowering the sign plates from the elevating mea-ns Vtothe supporting means, and

an arm connected with the swinging arms and projecting into the path of the ascending sign plates to be moved thereby ,for lifting the swinging arms and provided with a cam extension for remaining in contact withv the ascending sign plate to retard the downward movementA of the swinging arms.

11. An automatically changeable sign,y comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign. plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on thesupporting means, means for removing the sign plates from the supporting means, elevating means for lifting the sign plates, swinging arms for lowering the sign plates from the elevating means to the supporting means, an arm connected with the swinging arms and standing in the path of the ascending sign plates to be lifted thereby for lifting the swinging arms, and a spring retracted cam shaped extension leaf having v a limited pivotal movement o-n the arm for remaining in engagementwith the ascending sign plate to restrain the downward movements of the swinging arms.

12.An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, signl plates for successively resting on the supporting means, means for removing the sign plates fromthe support- 1 ing means, an elevating'` means for lifting the lifting the sign plates successively, an elevated, inclined support receiving the sign plates from the elevating means, sign lowering means for carrying the signs from the elevated support to the supporting means, and escapement means on the elevated support operated by the sign lowering means for releasing the sign plates singly from the elevated support.

l-l. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means and having projecting lugs at their ends by which they are supported, means for conducting the sign plates from the supporting means, an elevating conveyer for lifting the sign plates successively by their lugs, an elevated Vinclined support receiving the lugs of the sign plates from the elevating conveyer, suitably operated swinging arms for lowering the sign plates from f' the elevated support to the other supporting means, and double toothed dogs on the elevated support engaged by the swinging arms for releasing the sign plates singly.

15. An automatically changeablel sign, comprising a casing havinga sign opening, pivotally mounted sign supports for holding the sign plates behind the sign opening,

* sign plates for successively resting on the supporting means and having projecting lugs at their ends by means of which they are supported, an inclined guide for leading the sign plates away from the sign supports, an elevating conveyer for lifting the sign rplates successively, swinging arms for lowering the sign plates to the sign supports, and means operated by the downward movement of the swinging arms for rocking the sign supports to discharge the sign therefrom onto the inclined guide.

16. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, pivotally mounted sign supports for holding the sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the sign supports and having projecting lugs at their ends by means of ywhich they are supported, an inc-lined guide for leading the sign plates away' from the sign supports, an elevating conveyer for lifting the sign plates successively, swinging arms for lowering the sign plates to the sign supports, spring pressed push rods connected with the sign sup-ports, levers engaging the push rods and standing in the path of the swinging arms to be moved thereby for swinging the sign sup-ports to discharge the sign plate therefrom onto the inclined guides on; the downward Inlovement of the swinging arms.

17. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having asign opening, pivotally mounted sign supports for holding sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the sign supports and having projecting lugs at their ends -by means of which they are supported, an inclined guide for leading the sign plates away from the sign supports, an elevating conveyer for lifting the sign plates successively, swinging arms for lowering the sign plates to the sign supports, spring pressed push rods connected with the sign supports, spring retracted levers in the Ipath of the swinging arms to be moved thereby, and rollers on the levers engaging the push rods for swinging the sign supports on the downward movement of the swinging arms to discharge the sign plate therefrom onto the inclined guide, said rollers passing over the ends of the push rods and permitting the return of the sign supports before the swinging arms complete their downward movement. j

18. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign openinv. means for supporting sign plates behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the suppo-rting means and having projecting lugs at their ends by which they are supported, means for discharging the sign plates from the supporting means, inclined guide ledges receiving the lugs of the sign plates as they leave the supporting means, said inclined guide ledges having a raised intermediate portion forming a pocket, suitably operated slides having cam edges for engaging the lugs of the sign plates and'moving them out of the pockets of the guide ledges, n elevating conveyer for lifting the sign plates` and means for lowering the sign plates onto the supporting means.

19. An automatically changeable sign, comprising a casing having a sign opening, pivotally mounted sign supports for holding sign plates ,behind the sign opening, sign plates for successively resting on the sign supports and having projecting lugs at their' ends by which they are supported, inclined guide ledges to receive ther lugs of the sign plates as they leave the sign supports, said guide ledges having raised intermediate portions forming pockets to retain the lugs of the sign plates, slides having inclined edges for engagmg the lugs of the slgn plates for forcing them out of the pockets,v

l0 of the swinging arms to rock the sign supports to discharge the sign plate therefrom, and a, lever connecting the push rods with the slides.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LYLE

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. 0. 

